8 beers whose sales have plummeted

[GA Russell]

Here's an article about eight American beers whose sales have plummeted in the past five years.

Number one on the list is Michelob. When I was sixteen, popular price beers cost a quarter, regular beers cost 30 cents, and the premium beers cost 35 cents. I would spend the extra nickel and order a Michelob, and no one ever thought to card me!

Anheuser Busch has a number of beers on the list. Perhaps their marketing or their management has been below par since they were sold to that Belgian company.

http://247wallst.com/2011/09/09/the-eight-beers-americans-no-longer-drink/

By the way, for me it's not enough to say that the beers are no good. That doesn't explain the recent sales decline. They weren't any good five years ago either!

[Big Wheel]

Old Milwaukee is the flagship of the high-end products made by faltering Pabst Brewing Company

I like PBR as much as the next hipster, but if Old Milwaukee is at the high end, please don't tell me what Pabst's low-end products are.

The article itself explains why this is happening: the beers are just as shitty as they've always been, but America is finally waking up to craft beer. Decent, widely available American beer - one more thing America should thank Jimmy Carter for!

[GA Russell]

BW, really the shift is due to light beers apparently. For example, Old Milwaukee Light didn't make the list!

[king ubu]

light beers ahead... count me out on that crap... and nothing against Belgian beers, please - there's none better!

[Big Wheel]

BW, really the shift is due to light beers apparently. For example, Old Milwaukee Light didn't make the list!

Not really. If there were really a net shift to light beers what you'd see is that light beer sales would be increasing. Instead they're merely not decreasing. Some people may be switching from crap regular beer to crap light beer, but if that's the case roughly as many are also switching from crap light beer to imports/craft beer.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

.... and nothing against Belgian beers, please - there's none better!

Um, I beg to differ, amigo!

[king ubu]

.... and nothing against Belgian beers, please - there's none better!

Um, I beg to differ, amigo!

Yeah... I'm sure we'd get along well and try out plenty of great beers together!

I love the variety, there's so much good stuff... yet most people fall for drafts and Heineken and other such crap... hell, even light beer!

Btw, I think I had some distant relatives in Alpirsbach... even was there on a visit once. But that was when I was in too tender an age to drink beer.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

.... and nothing against Belgian beers, please - there's none better!

Um, I beg to differ, amigo!

Man, when are you going to bring one of these mini kegs up this way? I'd love to help you finish one. Personally, I prefer Ayinger or Erdinger with Tucher as a fall back.

[JSngry]

Does Pabst own Schlitz now?

I only ask because Old Milwaukee used to be Schlitz's "bargain" beer back when Schlitz was riding high.

Last I heard, Schlitz was bought by Stroh's.

Where are they all now?

[T.D.]

Slightly OT, but I read an article yesterday about Procter and Gamble (the "quintessential" middle-class US brand company). Because of the "disappearing US middle class" (the country is increasingly divided between wealthy and "have-nots"), P&G is moving away from "middle ground" and concentrating on high-end and low-end brands.

While the move to light beer is highly significant, I expect the same thing is happening in beers. I figure "middle-class" brews are hurting, while craft/import (premium) and el-cheapo brands are more than holding their own. [i no longer drink alcohol, so can't speculate about particular brands.]

[alocispepraluger102]

Slightly OT, but I read an article yesterday about Procter and Gamble (the "quintessential" middle-class US brand company). Because of the "disappearing US middle class" (the country is increasingly divided between wealthy and "have-nots"), P&G is moving away from "middle ground" and concentrating on high-end and low-end brands.

While the move to light beer is highly significant, I expect the same thing is happening in beers. I figure "middle-class" brews are hurting, while craft/import (premium) and el-cheapo brands are more than holding their own. [i no longer drink alcohol, so can't speculate about particular brands.]

this makes a lot of sense--too much sense. thx.

[danasgoodstuff]

I didn't see the truly awful Busch bargain brand on the list, must be those charming adds with the stripper silhouette that read "Grab a Busch" - nothing like subtlety!

[JSngry]

[.:.impossible]

Of interest:

http://www.buffalonews.com/business/article469464.ece

[GA Russell]

Our favorite joke when I was 12...What do you call a tired guy from southern Germany? A bushed Bavarian!

Thanks for that article, impossible. Nothing like a billionaire's sons to ruin a company.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

When I was in Germany, a joke I heard was:

What is the difference between Coors Light and making love in a canoe? None. They're both fucking close to water.

[Leeway]

I might be a good case in point. I used to drink Budweiser. One day I had this:

And didn't look back. Also vary with this:

When I go out, I now usually order a Pilsener or a Dutch beer, depending what's on tap. Still not a dark beer fan though.

[medjuck]

I like tasting whatever is the local brew. Usually works out well for me but I've never been in Milwaukee.

[GA Russell]

I can believe that Michelob drinkers are migrating to the craft beers, but I can't believe that the Old Milwaukee guys are.

I think that TD's post #10 has the ring of truth.

[Chuck Nessa]

Have all the Blatz drinkers died?